Nov 24, 2014 3 min read

WAYNESBURG – The Franklin Township supervisors held their first public hearing Monday to receive comments and suggestions on the use of the township’s 2014 Community Development Block Grant.

No residents attended the hearing, leaving the supervisors with the task of having to come up with an idea on how to spend the $107,897 in CDBG funds.

The township was using the money to extend water lines. The last project was for a line extension on North Liberty Street.

The supervisors spoke about several possible projects, including a water line extension on Barton Hollow Road, but noted extensions along other roads that also need public water had to be ruled out because of income eligibility requirements for use of the CDBG funds.

CDBG money can be used on projects including improvements to public facilities, infrastructure, housing and recreational facilities, street and road improvements and planning activities.

But the money must be spent on projects that benefit low- and moderate-income residents. For a line extension project, for instance, the township must survey residents along the road to make sure a certain percentage of them meet the CDBG standard for a low- or moderate-income household.

The supervisors did not make a decision on a project. “We have a couple ideas,” supervisor Reed Kiger said. “This is something we’ll have to work on.”

Rob Kuchar, the township’s CDBG coordinator, said the township’s CDBG application must be submitted by Jan. 3. The supervisors will have to have a project chosen by their meeting on Dec. 22, he said.

The supervisors, at the Dec. 22 meeting, also will adopt the township’s 2015 budget.

The tentative budget, which had been approved at a meeting Nov. 12, calls for no increase in taxes.

The budget lists spending at $1,939,782 and revenue at $2,004,495.

Income and disbursements are about the same as last year, township secretary Carol Kraft said. However, the supervisors did include $500,000 in the budget for repairs to the township’s shop building.

The township levies a 1.28 mill property tax. Of that, 0.75 of a mill is earmarked for the general fund, 0.17 of a mill for machinery and 0.36 of a mill for fire protection.

The supervisors also have decided again to keep the local service tax at $10. The tax is collected from each person who works in the township and, by law, can be as much as $52.

In other business, the supervisors voted to begin the process of creating an agricultural security area, a designation that helps farmers protect their land from development and ensure its continued use for agricultural purposes.

Three property owners, Richard Patterson, Rodney Rohrer and supervisor Corbly Orndorff had requested the designation. Additional property owners can ask to be included in the area but must make the request within the next two weeks.

The designation gives farmers special consideration in regard to “nuisance” challenges. This could come into play if, for example, homes are built nearby and the new home owners complained about noise associated with normal farm operations and sought ordinances to restrict it.

The designation also makes it more difficult for someone to use eminent domain to condemn the farm property.

The supervisors began the process of vacating Cherry Alley in the North Waynesburg plan of lots. The road will be vacated between Route 19 and East Alley and between East Alley and Hiland Avenue, which previously was vacated, said Steve Coss, township code officer.

All property owners have signed a petition agreeing to the closing of the alley, Coss said.